Portable terminal, server, and method for realizing function of portable terminal using network

ABSTRACT

A portable terminal, capable of accessing to a software executing server having a hardware access layer in which the hardware of a predetermined portable terminal is virtualized, wherein the server executes a virtual portable terminal program realizing a predetermined function of a portable terminal in response to a request from the portable terminal. The portable terminal comprises: a terminal-end hardware access layer that receives a hardware access instruction issued by a virtual portable terminal program executed by the software executing server to the hardware access layer in a hardware access command capable of containing a plurality of hardware access instructions.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of the priority ofJapanese patent application No. 2006-286552 filed on Oct. 20, 2006, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by referencethereto.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for realizing function ofportable (mobile) terminal, system implementing the method, portableterminal, server, and various devices; and particularly to a method forrealizing a function of a portable terminal using the resources of aserver on a mobile network, system implementing the method, portableterminal, server, and various devices.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, portable terminals such as mobile phone terminals andPDAs (Personal Digital Assistant) are able to download applications froma server, in addition to preinstalled applications. Further, as thespeed of radio networks increases and the functions of portableterminals are improved and diversified, users are demanding anincreasing number of more advanced functions.

Patent Document 1 discloses a remote controlled printing system in whicha server on a communication network vicariously performs high-loadprocessing (print object data conversion processing) and a portableterminal receives only processing results.

Further, Patent Document 2 disclose a technology called nomadiccomputing in which virtual application environment control units andvirtual input/output control units of two computers are virtuallyconnected and the user environment of one of the computers is realizedby the other computer.

[Patent Document 1] WO2002/046905

[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Kokai Publication No. JP-A-11-175468

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

The entire disclosures in the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 and 2are incorporated herein by reference thereto. The following analysis isgiven by the present invention.

In order to meet the aforementioned demand by users that an increasingnumber of more advanced functions be provided, in recently released newterminals, the functions of installed applications are improved and theprocessing ability of the CPU and memory are enhanced. However, sincethe improvement in the functions of applications and the enhancement ofthe CPU and memory generally increase the cost, size, and powerconsumption of a device, it is increasingly getting difficult to reducethe cost, size, and power consumption on the whole. Further, thefunctional improvement will increase the size of an application, and asa result, not only development costs, but also expenses and labor forbug fixes and such will increase as well.

According to the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possibleto obtain a high-load processing result using few resources, however,the method can only be effective when a particular processing isperformed. Further, the processing ability and memory resources of aportable terminal cannot be decreased and the method does not contributeto the reduction of the cost, size, and power consumption of theportable terminal itself.

Further, according to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2, itis possible to create a user environment suitable for the ability(including the applications) of each individual portable terminal,however, when this technology is applied to portable terminals,fluctuations in the transmission speed and communication quality in awireless (radio) section that connects the portable terminals may causedelays. As a result, the operation of the portable terminal may delay orfreeze, or the entire operation may become unnatural. Therefore, theuser demand for advanced functions cannot be satisfied.

The present invention seeks to solve the problems described above, andit is an object of the present invention to provide a method forrealizing a function of a portable (mobile) terminal, capable ofenriching functions without increasing the processing ability and memoryresources of the portable terminal and of reducing cost, size, and powerconsumption, portable terminal, server, client-server system, andvarious devices, which will be controlled objects, comprising a functionthat realizes (adds) a new function by the same method.

Means to Solve the Problems

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda portable (mobile) terminal, capable of accessing to a softwareexecuting server having a hardware access layer in which the hardware ofa predetermined portable terminal is virtualized, wherein the serverexecutes a virtual portable terminal program realizing a predeterminedfunction of a portable terminal in response to a request from theportable terminal. The portable terminal comprises: a terminal-endhardware access layer that receives a hardware access instruction issuedby a virtual portable terminal program executed by the softwareexecuting server to the hardware access layer in a hardware accesscommand capable of containing a plurality of hardware accessinstructions.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda software executing server, having a hardware access layer in which thehardware of a predetermined portable terminal is virtualized, whereinthe server executes a virtual portable terminal program realizing apredetermined function of a portable terminal in response to a requestfrom the portable terminal; wherein the server executes the virtualportable terminal program in response to a request from a portableterminal comprising a terminal-end hardware access layer that receives ahardware access command containing a plurality of hardware accessinstructions; and the server transmits a hardware access instruction,issued by the virtual portable terminal program for the hardware accesslayer, as the hardware access command to the terminal-end hardwareaccess layer of the portable terminal.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda client-server system formed of the portable terminal and the softwareexecuting server described above, and an attachment device and a networkdevice (external device) controlled by the portable terminal and thesoftware executing server described above.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method for realizing a function of a portable terminal in a portableterminal capable of accessing to a software executing server, having ahardware access layer in which the hardware of a predetermined portableterminal is virtualized, wherein the portable terminal executes avirtual portable terminal program realizing a predetermined function ofa portable terminal in response to a request from the portable terminal.The method for realizing (adding) a function of a portable terminalcomprises: having the portable terminal access to the software executingserver and request starting of a virtual portable terminal programrealizing a desired function; having the virtual portable terminalprogram executed by the software executing server issue a hardwareaccess instruction to the hardware access layer after the softwareexecuting server has started the virtual portable terminal programrequested by the portable terminal; having the software executing servertransmit the hardware access instruction as a hardware access commandcapable of containing a plurality of hardware access instructions to theportable terminal; and having the portable terminal operate hardwareaccording to a hardware access instruction contained in the hardwareaccess command.

Meritorious Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, it becomes possible to realize manyadvanced functions demanded by users with a low-cost portable terminalhaving a reduced amount of memory installed and reduced processingability without increasing cost, size, and power consumption. Further,in terms of application development, it becomes possible to reduce thecost and labor of developing applications. The reason is that, in orderto improve functions of a portable terminal, any function can beprovided from an external software executing server, which is not aslimited as the portable terminal in terms of processing ability andmemory resources, and that a hardware access method not susceptible todelays is employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a schematic configuration according to afirst mode of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing an attachment device, a portable terminal,and a software executing server according to the first mode of thepresent invention in a hierarchical model.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the software structure of a portableterminal according to a first exemplary embodiment of the presentexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a hardwareaccess layer portion (device) of the portable terminal according to thefirst exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the software structure of a softwareexecuting server according to the first exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a hardwareaccess layer portion (virtual device) of the software executing serveraccording to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the software structure of anattachment device according to the first exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a hardwareaccess layer portion (device) of the attachment device according to thefirst exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing steps from power-turning on the portableterminal according to the first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention to completing the control switching, i.e., a series of virtualportable terminal programs has been started on the software executingserver.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the portable terminalaccording to the first exemplary embodiment of the present inventionwhen the portable terminal has moved out of coverage while in a waitstate provided by the software executing server.

FIG. 11 is a drawing showing the structure of a hardware access protocolmessage according to the first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing how the hardware of the portable terminalis controlled by hardware access instructions issued by the softwareexecuting server according to the first exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 13 is a drawing showing a series of operations performed when theattachment device is connected to the portable terminal according to thefirst exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing how the attachment device connected tothe portable terminal is controlled by the hardware access instructionsissued by the software executing server according to the first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a drawing for explaining a schematic configuration and theoperation of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the software structure of an externaldevice according to the second exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 17 is a drawing showing an attachment device, a portable terminal,and a software executing server relating to another mode of the presentinvention in a hierarchical model.

PREFERRED MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Various modes of the present invention will be described.

Mode 1

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda portable terminal capable of accessing to a software executing server,having a hardware access layer in which the hardware of a predeterminedportable terminal is virtualized; the portable terminal executing avirtual portable terminal program realizing a predetermined function ofthe portable terminal in response to a request from the portableterminal; and comprising a terminal-end hardware access layer thatreceives a hardware access instruction issued by the virtual portableterminal program executed by the software executing server to thehardware access layer in a hardware access command capable of containinga plurality of the hardware access instructions.

Mode 2

The hardware access command is further capable of containing a hardwareaccess interval that prescribes the execution interval of the hardwareaccess instructions and interrupt hook information that prescribes whichhardware access instruction should be called up when an interruptoccurs.

Mode 3

The portable terminal starts an substitute program on the portableterminal when it cannot access to the software executing server, and assoon as the access to the software executing server has been restored,the portable terminal ends the substitute program on the portableterminal and requests the software executing server to start the virtualportable terminal program.

Mode 4

The portable terminal comprises: means for notifying the softwareexecuting server of an attachment device connected to the portableterminal and for having the hardware access layer of the softwareexecuting server updated, receives a hardware access command for theattachment device via the updated hardware access layer, and controlsthe attachment device.

Mode 5

The portable terminal is capable of controlling an external deviceconnected to the software executing server by having a hardware accessinstruction for the external device issued via a virtual portableterminal program executed on the software executing server.

Other Modes

Further, it is possible to develop the software executing server, aclient-server system, and a method for realizing a function of aportable terminal relating to the present invention similarly to eachmode of the portable terminal described above.

Next, a preferred mode for carrying out the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a drawingshowing a schematic configuration of the preferred mode of the presentinvention. FIG. 1 shows a portable terminal 10 having access means to amobile network, an attachment device 20 that can be connected to theportable terminal 10, a mobile network, and a software executing server30 connected to the mobile network.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the attachment device 20, the portableterminal 10, and the software executing server 30 in a hierarchicalmodel. In FIG. 2, the attachment device 20 is constituted by hardware210 and a hardware access layer portion 201 that accesses to thehardware 210.

The portable terminal 10 is constituted by applications for wireless(radio) communication control such as an authentication application 101and a cell search application 102, a simple operating system (OS) 103, aradio communication modem portion 104, and hardware access layerportions (device and communication portion) 105 and 106 for accessing tohardware (communication portion, key, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display),etc.) 110 and 111.

The software executing server 30 comprises an application 305 forrealizing a virtual portable terminal, middleware 304, an OS 303 for theportable terminal, a device driver portion 302, and a hardware accesslayer portion 301 in which the hardware of the portable terminal 10 isvirtualized.

Therefore, the portable terminal 10 does not have any application,middleware, OS, or device driver, and uses what is provided in thesoftware executing server 30.

When a hardware access from the high-order elements of the softwareexecuting server 30, namely the application 305, the middleware 304, andthe OS 303, occurs, the device driver portion 302 issues a hardwareaccess instruction to the hardware access layer portion 301. Thehardware access layer portion 301 puts together a plurality of thehardware access instructions received from the device driver portion 302and constructs a hardware access command.

The hardware access layer portion 301 of the software executing server30 and the hardware access layer portion 105 of the portable terminal 10communicate via the mobile network using a hardware access protocol, andtransmit and receive the constructed hardware access command.

The hardware access layer portion 105 of the portable terminal 10analyzes the hardware access command received from the hardware accesslayer portion 301 of the software executing server 30 via the radiocommunication modem portion 104, extracts the hardware accessinstructions, and successively performs hardware accesses.

Further, when the hardware access layer portion 301 of the softwareexecuting server 30 transmits a hardware access command for theattachment device 20 connected to the portable terminal 10, the hardwareaccess layer portion 105 of the portable terminal 10 transfers thehardware access command to the hardware access layer portion 201 of theattachment device 20 connected to the portable terminal 10.

The hardware access layer portion 201 of the attachment device 20analyzes the hardware access command received, constructs hardwareaccess instructions, and successively performs hardware accesses.

As described, by executing the virtual portable terminal programs ofapplications, middleware, OS, and device drivers of the portableterminal on the software executing server 30, it becomes possible tocontrol the device (hardware) of the portable terminal 10 and theattachment device connected to the portable terminal 10.

Exemplary Embodiment 1

Next, in order to more concretely explain the preferred mode of thepresent invention, exemplary embodiments of the present invention willbe described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the software structure of the portableterminal 10 relating to the present exemplary embodiment. In FIG. 3, theapplications for radio communication control such as the authenticationapplication 101 and the cell search application 102 are connected to theradio communication modem portion 104 and the hardware access layerportion (device) 106 so that the hardware access instructions andcommunication data can be transmitted/received.

The authentication application 101 performs authentication processingwith the software executing server 30.

The cell search application 102 searches a cell in which radiocommunication is possible when no radio communication connection isestablished.

The radio communication modem portion 104 has a function of processing acommunication protocol between the portable terminal and the mobilenetwork. Further, the radio communication modem portion 104 controls theradio communication hardware (110 in FIG. 2) via the hardware accesslayer portion (communication portion) 105.

The hardware access layer portion (communication portion) 105 providesthe high-order blocks with access means to the radio communicationhardware (110 in FIG. 2).

The hardware access layer portion (device) 106 provides high-orderblocks with access means to the hardware of the portable terminal notpertaining to radio communication, such as the keys and the LCD.Further, the hardware access layer portion (device) 106 has functions ofcommunicating with the hardware access layer portion (virtual device)301 of the software executing server 30 using a hardware access protocoland of performing processing of the hardware access command.

The attachment connecting portion 107 has a function oftransmitting/receiving the hardware access command to/from theattachment device 20.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of thehardware access layer portion (device) 106 of the portable terminal 10.In FIG. 4, the hardware access layer portion (device) 106 of theportable terminal 10 is constituted by a HW (hardware) access protocolprocessing portion 1061 that communicates with the hardware access layerportion (virtual device) 301 of the software executing server 30 using ahardware access protocol, a HW access command converting portion 1062,and a hardware access processing portion 1063 that controls each pieceof hardware.

The HW access protocol processing portion 1061 is connected to the HWaccess command converting portion 1062 and transmits the hardware accesscommand included in a hardware access protocol message.

The HW access command converting portion 1062 has functions of analyzingthe hardware access command received from the HW access protocolprocessing portion 1061 and of constructing hardware accessinstructions.

The hardware access processing portion 1063 has a function of performinghardware access based on the hardware access instructions received fromthe HW access command converting portion 1062.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the software structure (low-orderblocks) of the software executing server 30. In FIG. 5, the hardwareaccess layer portion (virtual device) 301 functions as access means tothe hardware for the device driver portion 302; the hardware accesslayer portion (virtual device) 301 constructs a hardware access commandfrom the hardware access instructions received from the device driverportion 302 and transmits the result in the form of the hardware accessprotocol message, described later. The device driver portion 302controls the devices on behalf of the high-order blocks: theapplication, the middleware, and the OS.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of thehardware access layer portion (virtual device) 301 of the softwareexecuting server 30. In FIG. 6, the hardware access layer portion(virtual device) 301 of the software executing server 30 is constitutedby an HW access command converting portion 3011 that receives thehardware access instructions from the device driver portion 302, and anHW access protocol processing portion 3012 that communicates with thehardware access layer portion (device) 106 of the portable terminal 10.

The HW access command converting portion 3011 constructs a hardwareaccess command from the hardware access instructions and transmits it tothe HW access protocol processing portion 3012.

The HW access protocol processing portion 3012 communicates with thehardware access layer portion (device) 106 of the portable terminal 10using a hardware access protocol.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the software structure of theattachment device 20. In FIG. 7, the hardware access layer portion(device) 201 of the attachment device 20 is connected to an attachmentconnecting portion 202 and receives the hardware access command sentfrom the portable terminal 10.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of thehardware access layer portion (device) 201 of the attachment device 20.In FIG. 8, the hardware access layer portion (device) 201 of theattachment device 20 is connected to the attachment connecting portion202, and is constituted by an HW access command converting portion 2011that receives the hardware access command and a hardware accessprocessing portion 2012 that controls the attachment device 20.

The HW access command converting portion 2011 constructs the hardwareaccess instructions from the hardware access command and transmits themto the hardware access processing portion 2012.

The hardware access processing portion 2012 performs hardware accessbased on the hardware access instructions received from the HW accesscommand converting portion 2011.

Next, the operation of the present exemplary embodiment will bedescribed. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing steps from turning on theportable terminal to completing the control-switching, i.e., a series ofthe virtual portable terminal programs has been started.

First, when the user turns on the portable terminal 10 (step S901), thecell search application 102 of the portable terminal 10 is started and acell search request is made to the radio communication modem portion104. The radio communication modem portion 104 searches for a nearestcell (step S902).

When a cell is found, the radio communication modem portion 104 performsattach processing to the mobile network and registers the portableterminal 10 to the mobile network (step S903).

Then, the authentication application 101 is started, and theauthentication processing of the portable terminal 10 for the softwareexecuting server 30 is performed using the radio communication modemportion 104 via the mobile network (step S904).

When the authentication processing by the authentication application 101is successful, the hardware access layer portion (device) 106 of theportable terminal 10 starts to communicate with the hardware accesslayer portion (virtual device) 301 of the software executing server 30using the radio communication modem portion 104 via the mobile network(step S905).

Once the communication between the hardware access layer portions 106and 301 has started, the hardware access layer portion (device) 106 ofthe portable terminal 10 transmits a request to the hardware accesslayer portion (virtual device) 301 of the software executing server 30to start a group of the virtual portable terminal programs for realizingthe virtual portable terminal.

The hardware access layer portion (virtual device) 301 of the softwareexecuting server 30, which has received the start request, performsstartup processing of the virtual portable terminal programs (stepS906).

When the startup processing is completed, the hardware access layerportion (virtual device) 301 of the software executing server 30transmits a notification that the startup is completed to the hardwareaccess layer portion (device) 106 of the portable terminal. The hardwareaccess layer portion (device) 106 of the portable terminal, which hasreceived the startup completion notification, hands over (i.e.,switches) the control of the portable terminal 10 to the virtualportable terminal programs of the software executing server 30 (stepS907).

From this point on, the functions of the portable terminal 10 areprovided by the virtual portable terminal programs of the softwareexecuting server 30 (step S908).

As described, the portable terminal 10 switches its control to thevirtual portable terminal programs of the software executing server 30as long as the portable terminal can connect to the software executingserver. In other words, according to this configuration, the portableterminal does not need advanced processing ability or memory resources,and cost and power consumption can be reduced.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the portable terminalwhen the software executing server 30 is no longer able to provide theterminal functions because the portable terminal has moved (step S1002)while in a state in which the software executing server 30 is providingthe terminal functions to the portable terminal (step S1001).

The portable terminal 10 shifts to a wait state in which the substituteprogram such as the simple OS 103 installed on the portable terminaltakes control of the device (step S1003) when the software executingserver 30 is no longer able to provide the terminal functions to theportable terminal.

Then, the search for the nearest cell (neighboring) is performed by thecell search application at a predetermined time interval (step S1004).When a nearest cell is detected (YES in step S1005), the attachprocessing to the mobile network is performed (step S1006).

From this point on, as in the steps S904 to S908 in FIG. 9, after goingthrough the authentication processing with the software executing server30 (step S1007), the start of the communication between the hardwareaccess layers (step S1008), the resuming of the virtual portableterminal program control (step S1009), and the switch of the control ofthe portable terminal 10 (step S1010), the portable terminal returns tothe wait (stand-by) state controlled by the software executing server30.

FIG. 11 is a drawing showing the structure of the hardware accessprotocol message transmitted between the portable terminal 10 and thesoftware executing server 30. In FIG. 11, the hardware access protocolmessage is formed of a header portion and a hardware access commandportion. The hardware access command portion is formed of a headerportion and a hardware access instruction portion.

The hardware access instruction portion is able to contain the hardwareaccess instruction such as write/read to/from a hardware address, thehardware access interval for taking time interval between hardwareaccesses, and the interrupt hook for having the software hook aninterrupt from the hardware.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing how the hardware of the portable terminal10 is controlled by the hardware access instructions issued by thesoftware executing server 30 of the first exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. In FIG. 12, when a device access occurs while thesoftware executing server 30 is executing a software program, the devicedriver portion 302 issues the hardware access instruction, the hardwareaccess interval, and the interrupt hook to the hardware access layerportion (virtual device) 301 based on the contents of a device controlrequest received from the high-order blocks.

In the hardware (HW) access layer portion (virtual device) 301, the HWaccess command converting portion 3011 receives the hardware accessinstruction, the hardware access interval, and the interrupt hook.

The HW access command converting portion 3011 packs the hardware accessinstruction, the hardware access interval, and the interrupt hook into ahardware access command, to generate the hardware access command, andtransmits it to the HW access protocol processing portion 3012.

The HW access protocol processing portion 3012 transmits the hardwareaccess command to the portable terminal 10 using the hardware accessprotocol via the mobile network.

The radio communication modem portion 104 of the portable terminal,which has received the hardware access protocol message from the mobilenetwork via radio communication, transmits the hardware access protocolmessage received to the hardware access layer portion (device) 106.

In the hardware access layer portion (device) 106, the HW accessprotocol processing portion 1061 receives the hardware access protocolmessage.

The HW access protocol processing portion 1061 extracts the hardwareaccess command from the hardware access protocol message received andtransmits it to the HW access command converting portion 1062.

The HW access command converting portion 1062 analyzes the hardwareaccess command, acquires the hardware access instruction, the hardwareaccess interval, and the interrupt hook, and successively transmits themto the hardware access processing portion 1063.

The hardware access processing portion 1063 performs hardware accessaccording to the hardware access instruction, the hardware accessinterval, and the interrupt hook that it has received.

For instance, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 12, firsthardware access instruction #1 is executed, and then hardware accessinstruction #2 is executed after a wait time period prescribed inhardware access interval #1, following the order in which theseinstructions are contained in the hardware access command.

Further, interrupt hook #1 is registered and hardware access instruction#3 is held. Then, when a hardware interrupt occurs, the interrupt ishooked and the hardware access instruction #3 is executed.

As described, the software executing server 30, operating as the virtualportable terminal, controls the hardware of the portable terminal viathe mobile network.

Further, the fact that the hardware access instruction, the hardwareaccess interval, and the interrupt hook are transmitted together in theform of the hardware access command/the hardware access protocol messageshown in FIG. 11 solves the delay of hardware access caused by the delayin the mobile network.

FIG. 13 is a drawing showing a series of operations performed when theattachment device 20 is connected to the portable terminal 10.

First, when the user connects the attachment device 20 to the portableterminal 10, the attachment device 20 reports an device ID (step S1301).

The portable terminal 10 notifies the software executing server 30 thatthe attachment device 20 is added and transmits the device ID (stepS1302) to the server.

The software executing server 30 searches for a device drivercorresponding to the device ID (step S1303), loads it, and adds it tothe software environment of the portable terminal (step S1304).

Then the software executing server 30 starts to control the attachmentdevice 20 (step S1305), and from this point on, it is possible for thevirtual portable terminal program to control the attachment device 20(step S1306).

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing how the attachment device 20 iscontrolled by the hardware access instructions issued by the softwareexecuting server 30, which now controls the attachment device 20 asdescribed above. In FIG. 14, when the need to control the attachmentdevice 20 occurs while the software executing server 30 is executing avirtual portable terminal program, the device driver portion 302successively issues the hardware access instruction, the hardware accessinterval, and the interrupt hook to the hardware access layer portion(virtual device) 301 based on the contents of a device control requestreceived from the high-order blocks.

In the hardware access layer portion (virtual device) 301, the HW accesscommand converting portion 3011 receives the hardware accessinstruction, the hardware access interval, and the interrupt hook.

The HW access command converting portion 3011 packs the hardware accessinstruction, the hardware access interval, and the interrupt hook into ahardware access command, to generate the hardware access command, andtransmits it to the HW access protocol processing portion 3012.

The HW access protocol processing portion 3012 transmits the hardwareaccess command to the portable terminal 10 using the hardware accessprotocol via the mobile network.

The radio communication modem portion 104 of the portable terminal,which has received the hardware access protocol message from the mobilenetwork via radio communication, transmits the hardware access protocolmessage received to the hardware access layer portion (device) 106.

In the hardware access layer portion (device) 106, the HW accessprotocol processing portion 1061 receives the hardware access protocolmessage.

The HW access protocol processing portion 1061 extracts the hardwareaccess command from the hardware access protocol message received andtransmits it to the attachment connecting portion 107/202.

The HW access command converting portion 2011 of the attachment device20, which has received the hardware access command via the attachmentconnecting portion 107/202, analyzes the hardware access command,acquires the hardware access instruction, the hardware access interval,and the interrupt hook, and successively transmits them to the hardwareaccess processing portion 2012.

The hardware access processing portion 2012 of the attachment device 20performs hardware access according to the hardware access instruction,the hardware access interval, and the interrupt hook that it hasreceived.

As described, the software executing server 30, operating as the virtualportable terminal, controls the hardware of the attachment device 20connected to the portable terminal 10.

As described, it becomes possible to control not only the portableterminal 10 proper, but also a device attached to the portable terminal10 such as the attachment device 20. Moreover, the device driver for theattachment device 20 does not have to be installed on the portableterminal 10, and the driver provided on the software executing server 30can be used.

Only applications necessary for the hardware access processing such asthe cell search application and the authentication application areinstalled on the portable terminal, and it is possible to control thehardware of the portable terminal 10 and the attachment device 20connected to it using programs provided on the software executing server30.

Therefore, it is not necessary to preinstall the OS and a series ofapplication programs on the portable terminal 10 anymore, and theportable terminal 10 can utilize the resources of the software executingserver 30, which provides the functions of the portable terminal,according to its needs. Further, as a result, it is possible to reducethe processing ability and memory resources required for the portableterminal 10. Furthermore, if the user environment of each user isregistered on the software executing server 30 and can be read at thetime of the authentication processing, it will be easy to maintain theprevious user environment when the user of the portable terminal 10 ischanged or the portable terminal 10 is replaced.

Further, the configuration described above has another advantage thatwireless (radio) communication resources are not needed when data on awebsite on the Internet is downloaded to the software executing serveror other storages on the network. For instance, without paying for radiopacket, audio and video data can be collected. Radio resources arerequired when the audio and video data are played back on the portableterminal 10, however, it is enough that a buffer for holding necessarycommands and data be provided on the portable terminal 10.

Exemplary Embodiment 2

Next, a second exemplary embodiment in which it is possible to controlan external device, not connected to the portable terminal 10, will bedescribed. Since the present exemplary embodiment has basically the sameconfiguration as Exemplary embodiment 1 described above, the differencesbetween them will mainly be discussed.

FIG. 15 is a drawing for explaining a schematic configuration and theoperation of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 15 shows the portable terminal 10 having access means to a mobilenetwork, the mobile network, the software executing server 30 connectedto the mobile network, another network connected to the mobile network,and external devices A41 and B42 connected to the network.

The external devices A41 and B42 are any devices having an interfacecapable of receiving the hardware access protocol transmitted by thesoftware executing server 30. For instance, various network-readydevices such as cameras set up at homes or offices, biologicalinformation input devices, and electric household appliances having acommunication function may be used. A method for controlling theseexternal devices A41 and B42 from the portable terminal 10 via thesoftware executing server 30 will be described.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the software structure of theexternal device A41 (the external device B42 has the same structure). InFIG. 16, the external device A41 comprises a communication portion 401,a hardware access layer portion (communication portion) 402, and ahardware access layer portion (device) 403.

The communication portion 401 provides functions of connecting to thenetwork and of communicating with it for the external device.

Further, the hardware access layer portion (communication portion) 402provides access means to communication-related hardware.

The hardware access layer portion (device) 403 provides access means tonon-communication-related hardware for the high-order blocks. Further,the hardware access layer portion (device) 403 has the function ofcommunicating with the hardware access layer portion (virtual device)301 of the software executing server 30 using the hardware accessprotocol, and the function of executing the hardware access command.

The internal structure of the hardware access layer portion (device) 403is the same as that of the hardware access layer portion (device) 106 ofthe portable terminal 10 (refer to FIG. 4).

Next, the operation of the present exemplary embodiment will bedescribed. When the need to control the external device A41 (or theexternal device B42) occurs on a software program on software executingserver 30, the device driver portion 302 receives a device controlrequest from the high-order blocks.

The device driver portion 302 issues the hardware access instruction andthe others to the hardware access layer portion (virtual device) 301based on the contents of the device control request, as in the firstexemplary embodiment.

In the hardware access layer portion (virtual device) 301, the HW accesscommand converting portion 3011 receives the hardware access instructionand the others.

The HW access command converting portion 3011 packs the hardware accessinstruction and the others into a hardware access command, to generatethe hardware access command, and transmits it to the HW access protocolprocessing portion 3012.

The HW access protocol processing portion 3012 transmits the hardwareaccess command to the external device A41 (or the external device B42)using the hardware access protocol via the external network.

In the external device A41 (or the external device B42), thecommunication portion 401 receives the hardware access protocol messagevia the network.

The communication portion 401 transmits the hardware access protocolmessage received to the hardware access layer portion (device) 403.

The operation in the hardware access layer portion (device) 403 is thesame as that of the attachment device in the first exemplary embodiment(refer to FIG. 14).

As described, the software executing server 30, operating as the virtualportable terminal, is able to control the external device A41 (or theexternal device B42) on another network. Further, since the processingis completed by the software executing server 30 and the external deviceA41 (or the external device B42) and only the results of it is sent tothe portable terminal 10 in the present configuration, it becomes easyto perform processing too large for the portable terminal 10 such asauthentication processing of an image supplied by the external deviceA41 or of biological information.

The fact that the external device A41 (or the external device B42),unconnected to the portable terminal 10, can be directly controlled bythe portable terminal 10 via the software executing server 30 means thatonly the hardware access layers need to be provided for the externaldevice A41 (or the external device B42) and that it is not necessary toprovide a dedicated user interface and display device for the externaldevice.

It should be noted that other objects, features and aspects of thepresent invention will become apparent in the entire disclosure and thatmodifications may be done without departing the gist and scope of thepresent invention as disclosed herein and claimed as appended herewith.

Also it should be noted that any combination of the disclosed and/orclaimed elements, matters and/or items may fall under the modificationsaforementioned.

For instance, in the modes and the exemplary embodiments describedabove, the portable terminal 10 comprises the non-communication-relatedhardware 111 and hardware access layer portion 106 (refer to FIG. 2),however, the portable terminal 10 only needs to have the functions ofconnecting to the software executing server 30 and of receiving thehardware access command. For instance, as shown in FIG. 17, it ispossible to employ a configuration in which a card-shaped portableterminal module (portable terminal card) 11 and an attachment device 21,in which necessary keys, an LCD, and memory are disposed, are connected.In this configuration, the processing ability and memory resources ofthe portable terminal module (portable terminal card) 11 can beminimized and cost, size, and power consumption can be further reduced.

1. A portable terminal, capable of accessing to a software executingserver having a hardware access layer in which the hardware of apredetermined portable terminal is virtualized, wherein said serverexecutes a virtual portable terminal program realizing a predeterminedfunction of a portable terminal in response to a request from saidportable terminal, said portable terminal comprising: a terminal-endhardware access layer that receives a hardware access instruction issuedby a virtual portable terminal program executed by said softwareexecuting server to said hardware access layer in a hardware accesscommand capable of containing a plurality of hardware accessinstructions.
 2. The portable terminal as defined in claim 1, whereinsaid hardware access command is further capable of containing a hardwareaccess interval that prescribes the execution interval of said hardwareaccess instructions and interrupt hook information that prescribes whichhardware access instruction should be called up when an interruptoccurs.
 3. The portable terminal as defined in claim 1, wherein ansubstitute program on said portable terminal is started when saidportable terminal cannot access to said software executing server; andsaid substitute program on said portable terminal is ended as soon asthe access to said software executing server has been restored, andrequesting to start said virtual portable terminal program is made tosaid software executing server.
 4. The portable terminal as defined inclaim 1, further comprising means for notifying said software executingserver of an attachment device connected to said portable terminal andfor having said hardware access layer of said software executing serverupdated; wherein a hardware access command for said attachment device isreceived via said updated hardware access layer; and control of saidattachment device is executed.
 5. The portable terminal as defined inclaim 1, wherein said portable terminal is capable of controlling anexternal device connected to said software executing server by having ahardware access instruction for said external device issued via avirtual portable terminal program executed on said software executingserver.
 6. A software executing server, having a hardware access layerin which the hardware of a predetermined portable terminal isvirtualized, wherein said server executes a virtual portable terminalprogram realizing a predetermined function of a portable terminal inresponse to a request from said portable terminal; wherein said serverexecutes said virtual portable terminal program in response to a requestfrom a portable terminal comprising a terminal-end hardware access layerthat receives a hardware access command containing a plurality ofhardware access instructions; and wherein said server transmits ahardware access instruction, issued by said virtual portable terminalprogram for said hardware access layer, as said hardware access commandto said terminal-end hardware access layer of said portable terminal. 7.The software executing server as defined in claim 6, wherein saidhardware access command is further capable of containing a hardwareaccess interval that prescribes the execution interval of said hardwareaccess instructions and interrupt hook information that prescribes whichhardware access instruction should be called up when an interruptoccurs.
 8. The software executing server as defined in claim 6, furthercomprising means for updating said hardware access layer based on anotification from said portable terminal that an attachment device hasbeen connected to said portable terminal, and executing the control ofan attachment device via said portable terminal by issuing a hardwareaccess instruction to said updated hardware access layer.
 9. Thesoftware executing server as defined in claim 6, wherein said serverexecutes control of an external device connected by a network by issuinga hardware access instruction for said external device based on acontrol request for said external device received via said virtualportable terminal program.
 10. A client-server system, comprising theportable terminal as defined in claim 1 and the software executingserver as defined in claim
 6. 11. An attachment device, comprising ahardware access layer that receives a hardware access instruction issuedby a program controlling an attachment device executed by the softwareexecuting server as defined in claim 8 through a hardware access commandcapable of containing a plurality of hardware access instructions.
 12. Anetwork device, comprising a hardware access layer that receives ahardware access instruction issued by a virtual portable terminalprogram executed by the software executing server as defined in claim 9through a hardware access command capable of containing a plurality ofhardware access instructions.
 13. A method for realizing a function of aportable terminal, in a portable terminal capable of accessing to asoftware executing server, having a hardware access layer in which thehardware of a predetermined portable terminal is virtualized, whereinsaid portable terminal executes a virtual portable terminal programrealizing a predetermined function of a portable terminal in response toa request from said portable terminal, the method comprising: havingsaid portable terminal access to said software executing server andrequest starting of a virtual portable terminal program realizing adesired function; having said virtual portable terminal program executedby said software executing server issue a hardware access instruction tosaid hardware access layer after said software executing server hasstarted said virtual portable terminal program requested by saidportable terminal; having said software executing server transmit saidhardware access instruction as a hardware access command capable ofcontaining a plurality of hardware access instructions to said portableterminal; and having said portable terminal operate hardware accordingto a hardware access instruction contained in said hardware accesscommand.
 14. The method for realizing a function of a portable terminalas defined in claim 13, wherein said hardware access command is furthercapable of containing a hardware access interval that prescribes theexecution interval of said hardware access instructions and interrupthook information that prescribes which hardware access instructionshould be called up when an interrupt occurs.
 15. The method forrealizing a function of a portable terminal as defined in claim 13,further comprising: having said portable terminal detect that saidportable terminal cannot access to said software executing server andstart an substitute program on said portable terminal; and having saidportable terminal detect that the access to said software executingserver has been restored, end said substitute program, and request saidsoftware executing server to start said virtual portable terminalprogram.
 16. The method for realizing the function of a portableterminal as defined in claim 13, further comprising: having saidsoftware executing server update said hardware access layer based on anotification from said portable terminal that an attachment device hasbeen connected to said portable terminal; wherein said softwareexecuting server executes the control of an attachment device by issuinga hardware access instruction to said updated hardware access layer. 17.The method for realizing a function of a portable terminal as defined inclaim 13, further comprising: having said software executing server, viasaid virtual portable terminal program, receive a control request fromsaid portable terminal that an external device connected by a network becontrolled; and having said software executing server control saidexternal device by issuing a hardware access instruction to saidexternal device according to said control request.